Lucky Sammy Kuffour!

Samuel Osei Kuffour who is expected to take charge of affairs of Kumasi Asante Kotoko today is assured of a good start financially as the club awaits its share of the transfer fees of ex-Kotoko defender, Baba Rahman, to Chelsea which is in the region of GH¢250,000.

The high-profile transfer of the gifted Black Stars left-back to Cheslea in a five-year deal fetched his German Bundesliga side, Augsburg, 14 million pounds (30 million euros). Kotoko, who gave the player the needed exposure three years ago, are expected to receive over 57,000 euros as training compensation and solidarity contribution, courtesy FIFA’s International Transfer Matching System (ITMS).

A source close to Kotoko hinted the Graphic Sports of the windfall yesterday and noted that Chelsea indeed notified Kotoko of the transaction last week.

The source said the Samuel Opoku Nti-led management did a follow-up this week and was informed by Chelsea that the money had actually been paid to the English Football Association for onward transfer into Kotoko’s accounts. 

All things being equal, the whopping amount would arrive in time to boost Kotoko’s recruitment drive for next season.

Apart from Kotoko, another Ghanaian club which also benefited from Rahman’s transfer is newly-promoted Dreams FC which loaned the player to Kotoko during the 2012/2012 season.

After an excellent season with Kotoko, Rahman was purchased by the then newly-promoted Bundesliga side, Greuther Furth, for a two-year term before joining Augsburg in the 2014-2015 season.

His eventual five-year deal with Chelsea last August ended series of overtures by some top European clubs, including Roma and Barcelona.

The introduction of the ITMS by FIFA has made it easy for clubs to get their due from player transfers, while eliminating underhand dealings which hitherto characterised such transfers and pegging the share of intermediaries (formerly agents) in such transactions at three per cent.

Meanwhile, Daniel Kenu reports that the much-trumpeted unveiling of the former Bayern Munich star, Kuffour, as the president of Kotoko has been reviewed by the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, who is expected to issue a statement on the appointment of the club’s new boss.

Otumfuo is scheduled to meet the outgoing management and board members and express his appreciation to them for managing the club for the past two-and-a-half years. 

Manhyia sources say Otumfuo will later issue a statement thanking the outgoing board, led by Lawyer Paul Adu Gyamfi, and the club’s General Manager, Opoku Nti, and his management team.

Today’s ‘thank you’ ceremony has been rumoured to be held privately as a sign of respect to the outgoing team.

But Opoku Nti told the Graphic Sports in a telephone conversation yesterday that he was unaware of any changes in the club, as well as the appointment of Kuffour as the club’s president despite an earlier confirmation by Manhyia.

“Neither myself nor the board chairman, Paul Adu Gyamfi is aware of any meeting with the king. As I speak with you, I am still at the office working. I can only say I am out of job when the Asantehene, through the board, asks me to lay down my tools,” he said.

In contrast, Opoku Nti insisted he was still in charge and revealed that he had identified some players which Kotoko intended to recruit for next season.